Bond Girl At Any Age
4 December 2006
Yesterday I witnessed a very glam, pint-size septuagenarian channeling her inner Bond girl.
At seventy-something, she was solo cross-country skiing, uphill, wearing a gorgeous coordinated ski-outfit with such panache that 007, had he made an appearance, would’ve completed the picture - as the perfect boy-toy companion.
Fit and agile on her skis, a picture of elegance too boot, glam gran made me wonder what it means to grow old?
In her wobbly octogenarian years, Beaty’s mum, my granny Ethel, could still bend down on one knee and roll a bowl while simultaneously projecting an air of decorum.
Her mates at the lawn bowling club called her, The Duchess.
Maybe the bowling mates were having a bit of a dig at Ethel, but I wasn’t joking when I said skiing gran was totally in touch with her inner Bond girl. Some women simply age with grace and dignity.
Heaps of chutzpah and a good dose of healthy vanity help too!
Ethel was vain, but her vanity wasn’t in vain. She always coiffed her hair so the little bald patch at the back of her head was covered. She rouged her cheeks, wore lippie, hobbled about in heels that matched her out-of-date but classic Dior frocks, which she always wore with pearls.
And she never, ever took her teeth out in public!
Granny Ethel took pride in the way she looked and no doubt this contributed to her having a healthy self-esteem, and the nickname, The Duchess.
Skiing gran was straight out of the winter issue of Vogue: Khaki quilted down jacket with red faux-fur edging and matching ski pants, matched gloves and hat, red lippie to go with all the fluffy faux stuff and Jackie O big glasses.
Did I not say “gorgeous?”
It takes a very big dose of Oh my God I wanna look good to put together an outfit like that just so you can heave yourself up a snowy hill, alone!
In my most neurotic age-phobic moments, I’ll think of these two inspiring old girls.
I’ll be reminded that so long as I have the chutzpah to stay active and a healthy self-interest in beauty booty, I too will age with a twinkle in my eye, a smile on my face, and my inner Bond-girl always ready for action.
December 20th, 2006 at 3:09 pm